Hospital denies allegations as wrongful death lawsuit is filed by Pittsburgh attorney

A Pittsburgh woman says doctors at UPMC Mercy hospital allowed her husband to die because he didn’t have health insurance.

Hill District resident Robin Tillman broke down in tears several times as she talked about her husband’s final moments and the wrongful death suit she’s filed with the help of Pittsburgh attorney Jason Luckasevic. Tillman is suing four doctors and UPMC Mercy. The complaint argues the hospital denied 40-year-old Dorian Tillman medical care, specifically a critical surgery, because he didn’t have health insurance.

"Medical records actually referenced the fact the family did not have health insurance,” Luckasevic said.

"He was supposed to get an emergency surgery, but they kept putting it off and putting it off,” Tillman said. "This is all because we didn't have insurance. We were looking for it, we just couldn't afford it."

Tillman was a minister and a father to three boys.

According to the complaint, Tillman visited UPMC Mercy multiple times between September 2010 and August 2011 for abdominal pain.

During his first visit, on Sept. 2, 2010, Dr. John R. Whiteford wrote in his notes that Tillman was diagnosed with diverticulitis at UPMC McKeesport but was unable to undergo treatment because he could not afford it, the lawsuit says. Instead, he had a CT scan, doctors prescribed medicine and he was discharged.

On Dec. 14, 2011, Tillman went to UPMC Mercy's emergency department complaining of abdominal pain. Doctors assessed his vital signs and took a CT scan of his abdomen and pelvis. They treated Tillman until shortly after 10 p.m., when an order to notify a doctor of his vital signs was discontinued. A follow-up CT scan of Tillman's abdomen and pelvis also was canceled, the lawsuit says. Tillman died in the early morning hours of Dec.16.

"Over a period of 14 hours, he was left in an unmonitored hospital room and his vitals were not checked,” Luckasevic said.

Luckasevic says nonprofit hospitals like UPMC Mercy are required to treat all patients equally, regardless of ability to pay.

Tillman says she can’t help but wonder how things might have been different if she could have afforded insurance.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't able financially to take care of him, and I'm sorry we were such a burden on you. But I'm telling you this: Where do you get the right to decide who lives or dies because of money?” Tillman said. Referencing one of her husband’s doctors, she said, "At what point did he decide that my husband's life wasn't worth saving?”

Channel 4 Action News contacted UPMC for reaction to the civil lawsuit. A spokesperson responded by writing: “We extend our sympathies to the family. We deny the allegations.”

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